May 12 Livin' on Tulsa Time...

 May 12 - no driving except a little excursion around town. Another night at the Tulsa Club Hotel.

Tulsa was just a sleepy little town of 1300 people in 1900 and then oil was discovered in the fields west of town.  At one time more oil came out of those fields than any other place in the world.   It created a huge boom and immense wealth as well as a population boom.   By 1910 there were 20,000 people, by 1920 70,000 and by 1930 140,000!   With all that wealth Tulsa wanted to show the world they were modern and cosmopolitan and embraced the newest Art Deco architectural style in the new buildings  and churches being built.  Many of these buildings still exist and welcome visitors to enjoy the workmanship inside their lobbies as well as enjoying the eye appeal of their exteriors. 

Church Spire reaches up 225 feet

Built in 1929

Boston Avenue United Methodist Church Roof detail

Lobby in the Philgate Building  circa 1929-1930

There are a number of things in Tulsa starting with "Phil" including the Philgate Building, the Philcade building and the Philbrook Museum and Gardens.   All were connected to Waite Phillips - the founder   of Phillips Petroleum.  His 72-room  Italian Renaissance style Villa Philbrook built in 1927 along with the 25 acres it sits on were donated to the city of Tulsa a mere 11 years later in 1938 for use as a  museum.  It was our destination for the day.  Very  broad spectrum of artwork - from Renaissance materials, to Picasso's to current artists  and even included some Native American works. 

Back side of the Villa Philbrook - there are some more recent museum additions on the sides

Philbrook Formal Gardens

Still had some time to play around so drove by a few local Route 66 items.

Tulsa's other giant - "The  Atomic Cowboy" 

A pretty untypical Frank Lloyd Wright designed house

The old 11th street bridge was built in 1915 across the Arkansas River.  No longer in use but part of Route 66 until 1972 when it was closed. Now called the Cyrus Avery Memorial Bridge it is a National Historic Landmark.  A plaza at the foot of the bridge contains a sculpture  called "East Meets West" which depicts the Avery family in a Model T Ford meeting a horse drawn wagon returning  from the oil fields which were west of town across the river.   Cyrus Avery was known as the "Father of Route 66".  He created the route and number while a member of the federal board appointed to create the Federal Hiway System.  As a Tulsa  resident he insured the route went through Tulsa including this bridge which he was instrumental in having built while serving on the Tulsa County Commission.

"East Meets West" at the foot of the Cyrus Avery Memorial Bridge

Pretty thirsty by the end of the day and Tulsa has a very good craft beer scene, so Martha and I decided we should do some serious taste testing to quench our thirsts at Dead Armadillo Brewing.